| The greatest composer of sacred music in pre-Reformation England. He briefly held a most prestigious position – as the first choirmaster at Cardinal Thomas Wolsey’s newly founded Cardinal College (now Christ Church at Oxford) from 1526-1530. When the Cardinal fell from favor with the Crown after he failed to secure an annulment of Henry the VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon, he was relieved of his titles and his foundations became Crown property. Taverner left his position at the College in the period of uncertainty following these events. While his whereabouts and activities over the next 6 years are unknown, from 1537-45 he lived at Boston in South Lincolnshire where he took part in the town's civic affairs. The extent of his musical activities in these later years is unknown. |
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